The lego group has released many kinds of books, ranging from the aforementioned idea books to maze books and puzzle book to histories and storybooks. Lego technic supercar is launched, much to the delight of young fans of motoring. The forgotten war that changed american history, and more on. Discover the lego universe by kristiansen, kjeld kirk free us delivery isbn. A picturesque lego book chalk full of its company history. How is former lego boss buying up scottish country estates. One lego executive even had a discussion with mattel about acquiring the bruised brand, according to robertson. Brian kilmeade books list of books by author brian kilmeade. Kjeld kirk kristiansen books list of books by author kjeld. Kjeld kirk kristiansen and thomas kirk kristiansen inform about the gradual generational change which is now taking place in the owner family. While still a boy, he was a skilled modelmaker and a regular sparring partner in the design department when new models were tested.
Kjeld started as a management trainee with the companys german subsidiary in 1969 and went on to receive a b. This includes ole kirk christiansen, godtfred kirk christiansen and kjeld kirk kristiansen. Two years later he named his company lego after the danish phrase leg godt play well. By 1932, ole kirk kristiansen had four sons, karl georg, godtfred, johannes, and kjeld, and a loving wife, kirstine, as well as a reputation for skillful carpentry. Kjeld kirk kristiansen is the former president and ceo of the lego group 1979 2004. Buy a cheap copy of ultimate lego book by kjeld kirk kristiansen. Ole kirk christiansen danish businessman britannica. The grandfather of kjeld, ole kirk christiansen was the one who founded the family business and he started out as a. Fans of modern legos may be disappointed because the book doesnt showcase much in the way of licensed legos like star wars or harry potter so i guess the publisher expects readers will refer to their respective books instead. Lego company ole kirk christiansen with his son gotfred kirk christiansen.
Ole kirk christiansen was a danish carpenter and creator of one of the most beloved childrens toy companies of all time, lego. According to forbes, kjeld kirk kristiansen is the richest dane. The ride on zee me blue has now been given to thomas kirk kristiansen, son of blue hors owner kjeld kirk kristiansen. In 1934, ole began selling them under the now worldfamous name, lego. It is the story of the owners son kjeld kirk kristiansen, who turned lego into a booming. Kjeld kirk kristiansen profile photos successstory. Kjeld kirk kristiansen and gunhild kirk johansen assumes ownership of lego and the family office kirkbi. Lego history dates back to 1932 when ole kirk christiansen april 07, 1891 march 11, 1958. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Lego fan this is your ultimate resource for the amazing world of lego. Kjeld kirk kristiansen born december 27, 1947 was the president and ceo of the lego group between 1979 and 2004. And the first truly thematic set of lego appeared in 1979, and it was called legoland space.
Oles grandson, kjeld kirk kristiansen, later became ceo of the company and maintained that position until october 2004 when he was replaced by the companys first nonfamily chief executive. Kristiansen would go on to represent the third generation of the family to head the company. Follow the familys story from denmark where ole kirk christiansen. This unique book brings dk style to the world of lego, one of the worlds bestselling toys. The kristiansen family is known today for having created the lego group and kjeld kirk kristiansen was born on the 27th of december 1947 in the city of billund, denmark. It presents amazing lego sculptures from lifesize dinosaurs, to a time machine, to einsteins head, more than 15 feet tall. He was married to kirstine sorensen and father of johannes christiansen, karl georg kirk christiansen, godtfred kirk christiansen and gerhardt kirk christiansen. By that time, the lego group was producing a lot of different sets for all tastes. In 1977, the lego group was led by ole kirks grandson kjeld kirk kristiansen. They all took significant roles in changing and shaping the danish lego company to be what it is today. Kjeld kirk kristiansen is the former president and ceo of the lego group 19792004. Danish billionaire kjeld kirk kristiansen disclosed his 37yearold son, thomas, will succeed him as vice chairman of toy maker lego as.
He is the grandson of lego founder ole kirk christiansen. The kristiansen family toy trailblazers slater, lee on. This unique book brings dk style to the world of lego, one o. Zee me blue at the blue hors festival in november 2019 the kirk kristiansen family has dressage close at heart.
The name lego is an abbreviation of the two danish words leg godt, meaning play well. The lego group was founded in 1932 by ole kirk kristiansen. His father, godtfred kirk christiansen worked with his grandfather, ole kirk. Lego group, history of lego, ole kirk christiansen, godtfred kirk christiansen, kjeld kirk kristiansen, fabuland, legoland. Ole kirk christiansen april 7, 1891 march 11, 1958 was the founder of the lego group. Mar 02, 2001 the firm was founded in 1932 by ole kirk christiansen ole kirk christiansen, who originally crafted wooden toys in his carpentry shop. Thomas takes over the position of chairman of the lego foundation and deputy chairman of lego as. In october he appoints jorgen vig knudstorp as new ceo of the company. Books by kjeld kirk kristiansen author of the ultimate lego book.
Kjeld kirk kristiansen has 2 books on goodreads with 781 ratings. In 1949 lego produced its first plastic brick, a precursor to its signature brick with interlocking studs on the. He was born in 1891 in the village of filskovand, denmark and was the tenth child of jens niels christiansen and kirstine christiansen. Kjeld kirk kristiansen is the author of the ultimate lego book 4.
He was born in the danish town of billund a rural municipality in jutland that copenhagen residents refer to as. Follow the familys story from denmark where ole kirk christiansen began. Lego history dates back to 1932 when ole kirk christiansen april 07, 1891 march 11, 1958 founded the danish company to produce goods for daily use. The company has passed from father to son and is now owned by kjeld kirk kristiansen, a grandchild of the founder. The short film is first set in denmark and explores the origin and history of lego through the experiences of the kirk kristiansen family. Kjeld kirk kristiansen this book documents the story of lego and tells how a master carpenter in a small town of billund, in jutland, denmark started making.
Feb 19, 20 such an honour, the owner of lego driving the lego wheelchair at legoworld in copenhagen. Dezember 1947 in billund ist ein danischer industrieller. Owner and ceo kjeld kirk kristiansen heads up the building of an action plan to turn around the company. In 2004, the tenure of kjeld kirk kristiansen the grandson of the founder ended. The ultimate lego book by kjeld kirk kristiansen goodreads. Discover the lego universe by kjeld kirk kristiansen foreword by online at alibris. Learn how lego bricks are made, who came up with the name, how the family name came to be spelled with a k, and about other lego group products. Thirdgeneration owner of lego, kjeld kirk kristiansen led the toy company known for its interlocking plastic bricks from 1979 to 2004. Kjeld kirk kristiansen born 27 december 1947 is the former president and ceo of lego 1979 2004. Interview with kjeld kirk kristiansen, former president and ceo of the lego group, about the legoland billund ninjago world opening. Established in 2007, kirk kapitals heritage stretches back much further to 1932, when ole kirk christiansen started making wooden toys in his workshop. The kristiansen family by lee slater booksamillion. The company has passed from father to son and is now owned by kjeld kirk kristiansen. He was born in the village of filskov, located between the towns of sonder omme and give in central jutland denmark.
So states lego group president kjeld kirk kristiansen in his introduction to this. The year ends with another huge deficit due to heavy writedowns. Kjeld kirk kristiansen, godtfreds son, becomes president and ceo of the lego group. The firm was founded in 1932 by ole kirk christiansen ole kirk christiansen, who originally crafted wooden toys in his carpentry shop. In this success story, we are going to share ole kirk christiansen biography and the history of lego. My 12 year old is interested in this book but i can see that after a few looks through the book hes going to be bored with it bc he doesnt have a chance of building massive creations like this book illustrates and were not going to a legoland anytime soon. Kristiansen, kjeld kirk a book for lego fans teaching about the history and products. Kjeld kirk kristiansen is the former president and ceo of the lego group. The spy ring that saved the american revolution, and thomas jefferson and the tripoli pirates. Kristiansen has expanded his landowning interests further by negotiating to buy ledgowan estate, which features 11,000 acres as well as a red deer forest and a loch.
Kjeld kirk kristiansen is the billionaire grandson of the founder of lego. This is a book illustrating the lego brand and what wouldcould be possible if a person had unlimited lego parts. See all books authored by brian kilmeade, including george washingtons secret six. Here youll find the most uptodate information on everything lego. A carpenter by training who began making wooden toys during the great depression, christiansen devised the multicolored plastic blocks that could be fashioned into numerous combinations of colors and shapes and which went on to become one of the worlds. Legos billionaire owner names son as successor wsj. Thomas kirk kristiansen is taking responsibility for lego. Lego technic computer control is one of the first big results of the partnership with mit. Christiansen and his sons godtfred, karl, and gerhardt purchase a machine that makes plastic toys, and create the lego brick, and his grandson kjeld kirk kristiansen expands to legoland. Other articles where ole kirk christiansen is discussed.
In january, the lego group announces the results of 2003 a huge deficit. In 2004, the tenure of kjeld kirk kristiansen the grandson of the founder. Kjeld kirk kristiansen started quietly and bought five broodmares and a couple of 2year old colts. It is a book about an idea, a set of values, and a longterm commitment to empowering children to use their creativity and. Sep 19, 2017 one lego executive even had a discussion with mattel about acquiring the bruised brand, according to robertson. Kjeld kirk kristiansen, former president and ceo of the lego group, will own more than 80,000 acres of prime countryside in the scottish highlands once the sale of ledgowan estate, in wester ross, is eventually finalized mr. Ole kirk was born in the filskov village, located between sonder omme and give in central jutland denmark. Kjeld kirk kristiansen story bio, facts, networth, family. Mar 19, 2016 interview with kjeld kirk kristiansen, former president and ceo of the lego group, about the legoland billund ninjago world opening. Thomas is the managing director at lego and a committed dressage rider, his. He and his three grown children together evenly split. The grandfather of kjeld, ole kirk christiansen was the one who founded the family business and he started out as a carpenter who made wooden. This was the grandson of lego group founder ole kirk christiansen 18911958 and son of godtfred kirk christiansen 19191995.
The book is written by niels lunde, editorinchief for the business. His family was quite poor but ole managed to get a basic high school education. Kjeld kirk kristiansen president and ceo of the lego company kjeld kirk kristiansen is the third generation at the head of the lego group. Ole kirk christiansen biography, inventions and facts. Ole kirk christiansendanish toymaker ole kirk christiansen 18911958 founded the lego group, one of the worlds largest toy manufacturers. Lego group, history of lego, ole kirk christiansen, godtfred kirk christiansen, kjeld kirk kristiansen, fabuland, legoland, legoland windsor, legoland california, lego timeline, lego technic, lego town, lego space, lego. Kjeld kirk kristiansen is best known to be the ceo and president of lego, the most successful toy company based in denmark. Empty of content in terms of history, information or photos, the book seems to be just.
Kjeld kirk kristiansens most popular book is the ultimate lego book. Already in 1992 the number of broodmares had grown to. Lego has been a pioneer in using its products to advance research in learning and play. Such an honour, the owner of lego driving the lego wheelchair at legoworld in copenhagen. In easy to read chapters, with extensive references and links to get you to know all there is to know about lego right away. Kjeld kirk kristiansen books list of books by author.
Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the biography submission guide. Historien om godtfred kirk christiansen 1996 is an excellent biography of godtfred kirk christiansen 192095, son of ole kirk christiansen 18911958, which tells how godtfred created the lego brick and became one of denmarks most successful businessmen. It looks like we dont have any biography for kjeld kirk kristiansen yet be the first to contribute. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Kjeld kirk kristiansen wrote ultimate lego book, which can be purchased at a lower price at. Discover the lego universe by kjeld kirk kristiansen. Kjeld kirk kristiansen author of the ultimate lego book. In 1947, the year grandson kjeld kirk kristiansen the family. Kjeld kirk kristiansen, owner of lego driving the lego. The ultimate lego book recounts the companys early history as a oneman operation back in the 1930s and subsequent creation of its first plastic automatic binding brick, to the contemporary construction of myriad legoland theme parks.